Microscope



Patented July 27, 1943 :1 Th invent n e atest fiqel in en and more. particularly has ref erence to a micro:

scope and the specimen-stage associated;there- ,F,!ig 1ire -6 is a; sectionalelev on on thedine it i i inllo ifii's ree. l v. i, iOne important object oifmy invention -is;t0 Throughout the difierent views of the draw. p ide anovel type of revolving stage n use mg; have vused sirnilar reierenee nuri eral s;to v. a mieroscope wherein the simple and com ltejier to ,like ;part s.; and have shown the l -base pa t desie'n of the stage leads to its-readily eontrolled operation and facilitates microscopic ex amination. t t Another object is to devise means for operating the slides of arevolving stage of the type having superposed slides, which rneans are drivenirom shafts carried by the stage for rotation about an axis which is parallel to a central axis of the'stage lying inthe plane of the stage surfacewhile still another object {is to employ a: mechanical deii n whereby slides of the characterg desc-ribed operated fror n concentric acjtuating I m b b ton ;A further objectof the invention is to make use of a construction which employs a ring gear for operating one of the slides of arevolving microscopestage. I I

7 Yet a further object-oi my invention is topro;

vide a microscope stage-of the kind having superposed slides whereinvthe surface of the upper slide, Which'is carried on the lower slide, is flush with the latter, x a I With these and other objects-in view which may heincident to my improvements the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising the invention may-be varied J in construotion, proportion and arrangement without departingtfrom the spiritof the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended elaim s. l

In order tornake iny invention fmoreclearly understood, 1 have shownin the accompanying drawing means for carrying the same into practical effect withoutlimiting the improvements-in their useful. applications to the particular-con- RS f) i h Reeleper, I

daixtiywhi; 5 3 v I 1 5; a plenf view showing ,t'ne peiatiii n chanisrn,- the.shds-of the stage.;

Wi d i therein shown oomprises the ospel e .pivete e ur i -rm 11. i a apted .en ev e ere le epiece t ed f0 qc ein rh gins wm nt a eia an e .f f 1 1 we kn wn w S KPQ Qn-Js e h rlx fetr d; t t e su rte 1 101: h purpose oi supporting the'usual sulc'astageequ p merit mplo e :;i .m r q -e exami a io A own-associated with: the instrument of 1,1s a sh able we; sh w.- wh h i w ei ee o hes an my v neer-4 t e s e wm t se l. l. .he e iwe e e' ros is 'ides, th ew??? q w 3 art es specime ih e Tliesefsli e aswili presently appear; a-r oper- .ated firofh s arts; [which have mean -9 met r; rai

t'hes es w l; i

h stage havin -su r?- f construe tons h mg structions which, for the purpose of explanation, 81

have been made the subject of illustration. l

h pe ial reference to the drawing:

, Efigure l is a: -partials ide elevationzof amicro- I I scope'whichis equippedwithmy improved specimen stage. 1 l Figure 2 V Figure 3 is a partial vertical section ofythe stage andis taken on-thel-ine 3 3 of Figurez. E

Figure i isa partial vertical section similar.

to Figure 3 but taken; onthe. line 4-4;. of5Figurer2.

is a plan view of thespecimenlstage.

I w he-;surface' area iofiaa stage i me s on li es fli iefll means- :must'lbe reat y en-leieed-ov r 3 i h l th ren s er? a m 1 .r le' e; miQ Q Q- Q Sta e-mo nted lpy e i-e l t ei front er the I I r I that otctheanormar revolving stage 5 1:1; order: to: p rxmt ymovemento of its slides" =b' ness'is equal to the thickness of the second :or.

transverse slide 39, so that the upper surface of the latter will be flush with the-upper .surfacezof the main portion ofthe ,s1i de;,2l. By Setting the transverse slide 38 in the main slide 21,, Iamenabled to reduce. the overallthicknessoi thestage to an'amount .where interierencef the objectives carried by a revolving :hosepiece will -.be avoided when the nosepieceis'rotated'to :chang from one objectiveto another. 1 As best shown in Figures .i and :5, the transverse slide 39 isprovidedwith-rack teethflzialong the forward edge thereof. .Teeth .iiiilare adapted to engage with the teeth 3.5 .onithe ring gear :32, these latter teeth being ar-ranged'in operating relation to the rack. ...1t.'will be apparent that movement .ofthe transverse slide may be effected by rotation of the. ring sear-:2, the direction of such movement of the slidebeing in accordance with the direction of rotation of thering gear.

A conventional typeaof spec menholder G3 is adapted to be detachalcly mountedonthesm'face of the transverse slide. This mounting .is .carried out by means of ;:screws M which extend through the base of thespecimerhholder and -engage tapped holes A l inthe slidev39. The. specimen holder 3'is for'medwith a projection which overhangs the mainportio-n ofwthe slideiZi'l in the manner shown Figure i. .A suitablegroove' 145. I

is cut in the under surface of vthisoverhang to extend lengthwise of: the specimenholder so. as

with the groove so that the finger is slidably r mounted. Finger'S has a'{ conventiona1;pivotal cured to the slide zbyscrewsl53,: inthe manner illustrated in :Fie r sB and .5;. Fixed on-theex; terio f-iend of; the shaft 51 is a hollow operating button -54 while a pinion .55 i securedeon the inner end of tins shaft Withinithe cutaway pore, tion .30. Pinion 55 is arranged to engage with a rack 55 secured to the stage plate .l9by screws 51,, Rack 55is lojcated'in a'positio-n-such -that it is parallel to i'theguides and. guidewaysfor the mainslide 21. ItJ-is obvious thatsuitable rota,-

tion of 'thenactuatingbutton 54 :will causev desired extends bey'ond bothends' of theshait fil. ziAn operating button 59, of smaller. diameter. than the :buttonfl, .isfixedxon the outer end-fof the shaft 58 adjacent :the "button 5:4; The other -:end of the shaft 158 :is rotatably :journaled' between the top of the slidefland a bearing .cover 60 which latter :is' secured torthe 'slid'eiby screw/ .161; Fixedion thes'haft 58 is; a bevel gear or pinion .62 whichisiindriving engagement with the teeth '36. of the ring gear: 32. The journal provided by the bearing';cover Bilxand the topic-f the @slide 21 istthreaded vaoits end adjacent the central opening'28 in the slide to 'receive afiscreiwrdt. 7 Screw 63 provides means for assuring that ;pin.--

ion 62 is held in .idrivingengagementwith the ring geari32 and permits longitudinal adjustment oftthe' shaft '58' afiter'thelstage'has been asse m' n desiredfsimilar sharing aniji dr iv ej f for jboth'the-slide 21 and the ringgeariili may also be mounted in the slide 2'? diametrically opposite'to the meansijust disclosed. Generally,

however, tworseparaite' drive means are only aim ployed .for driving the ring gear.

drive-means for the ring gear issu-bstantially f Phe second like. the mechanism just described for: operating loch mechanism 48 'which is engageable with either of the notches 49 formed in the.overhang-. ing portionof the specimen holder asv shown in'Figure This permits the ringer 46 to .be I

maintainedin any one of several positions ofadjustnient.

The other'fing'er 41 is "connected to a spring 553, shown in Figure 4, which constantly urges finger 4'! towards the finger 138. One endzof spring" 5% is secured to the finger 4.! .while the these means specimens or specimen slidesxotdiiferent sizes may be accommodated between the "fingers of the specimen holder-which engages such in the conventional mannerot. holders of this character and supports-thesarne :upon the surface of my improved stage. i

.In driving the ring geai 32 and. m moving t slide 21, I make use of aghollow shaft.. i5l which extends within oneoi the, cutaway. pnmoea' 311] in the slide .21 andis Zrotatably'. jflournaled between he-i -e th a e-ewe i a aai eta i e this gear'and theslide 21with the exception'ithat it makes use of only one drive shaftwhichniay, fof'thesake of appearance, be of a diameter substantially the same as the'outer diarrietercof thehollowshaft 5|. l U

As shown in FiguIes L Z, Sand 5, the second drive {means for-the ring gear comprises a 'shatt :58" which extends into the cutaway portion iill opposite-to the shaft 58 and is journaledbetween the top of the slide 21 and the two bearing oov'ers 52: -and -60 whichare respectively-secured xtothe slide 2Tbyscrews 53" and' 6i"; Shaft- 5Ei has a pinion, not shown but substantiallylike the pinion 62; fixed thereto and in driving engagement; with the -ring'gear '32. Use is als'ornade are. longitudinal adjusting screw 63' similar tothe screW BEl bu-t associated with the bearing cover- '60" tor-maintainingthe-shaft 58" and i-ts pini on in driving relation to the ring -gear. Shaft- &8

"also has a'suitab'le operating button ES fiX-ed on itsouterend.

operati n: ofeither; button were 4 will ously drivethe ring gear 32' an ina-use the same '7 to move the transverse slide-39 independently of the mainslide '21 Wh le-f the latter slidemay .be movedby the act'ua;tion of the button"""54. 'Thus itwill be appreciated that-Lani able to selectively position either the main slide Zlort-he transverse slide3'9f although the transverse slide which'is carried on the' 'rriain sli'de 3i "-w-i ll'fb'e moved during movement of the latter. -"=Dne to 7.5 this construction; similar movement i-wi threspect to a :microscope objective is consequently obtained for a specimen engaged by the holder '43.

Theextent of any movement of the slides may be determined by the use of customary scales and index markings 'a'ssociatedwith the stage plate l9 and the two-slides of the' stage. Likewise, a scale maybe providedc'onthe' stage' -plate I 9 to indicate, :with respect to a suitably' fixed lndex,-the amountof. rotation-of the stage i In the construction which Iihave disclosed, it v should be observed thattI employ coaxially'posi- 5| and 58 are also concentric. This .feature,

namely, the location of the drive shafts along-a centralaxis of'the stagepermits the design of a stage. of normal SiZe, and weight which possesses the advantages of operation? from concentric operating buttons conveniently located f towthe hand of an observer using the microscopejl Another feature inthe location of thefbuttonsand' the drive shafts resides in their adaptability for use as handle meansfor revolving the stage.. It may be observed that while suitablerotation of the shaft 58 and button 59 will move .the transverse sllde. 39 in a desired direction; the rotation of thering gear 32 .will cause theshafti58' and its button 59 to be rotated lira direction'which is opposite to that of theshaftili'and its button- 59. In other'words, movement of the transverse slide in a particular-direction maybe effected when the stage is in 'theposition shown inFigure 2 by;rot'ating eitherthe button59-or159 in suit,- able but opposite directionsto each other.

Howeventhe button 59 maybe-rotated-uina direction-similar to that of the button 59 to cause on'i fsaid:stage support, 'a slide slidably mounted on said plate,"said'stage support, plate and slide each provided with a-central opening for the passage of light, a second slide mounted on said first slide for sliding"movement in a direction trans- Verse to the direction of movement of'the first slide, specimen .holding means carried by said second :slide, gear-lteethon saidsecond slide, gear means rotata'bly carried by saidfirst slide in operative" engagement with theigea'r teeth on said second slide for moving the latter, rack means on said plate; independently operable shafts rotatablyxjou'rnaled-Iin said first slide,pinion means fixed on one shaft inoperative relation with said rack'means and other pinion means fixed on a different shaft'inoperative relation with said gear means whereby to selectively move said first slide and rotate said gear means in accordance with the rotation of theirrespective shafts.

Thes'combination in a. microscope having a support arm. with a stag support thereon of a stage which comprises a stage plate rotatably mounted on said stage.-support,a slide superposed on said plate and a second slidev superposed on said first slide, said first slide-slidable on said plate and said second slide slidably mounted on said first slide for-movement in a direction which is transverse to the sliding movement of the first slide, said stage support, plate and firstslide provided with openings for the passage of light through the stage, specimen holding means on said second slide, gear means on said'second slide, means formoving said second slide having a ring gear rotatably and fioatingly carried by said first slide. in operative engagement with the gear means said second slide to. move the same upon ,the rotation of said ring gear, rack means carlike relative movementof the ;transverse slide-39 'withrespectto the main slide 2'! if the stage, as

viewed in Figure 2, is revolved so that the button 59' is to the right-ofafixed dividing ,lin which passes through the center, of the stageand is normal. to the support arm l2. Similarly; the rotation of either button in the same direction whencit is located on theleftofsuchfa fixed dividing line, will assure movement-oflthe transverse slide in corresponding relative direction withrespect to the slide 21." This inherentfeature in my. mechanismi is of importance in facilitating, examination of-an object, as it assures a microscopist thatthe same relative movement between the slides 39 and 2l will always'occur by uturning anactuating button for thering gear on his. right, in a particular direction withhis right hand while also movement of; the slidev 3 9 in a particular direction will always takegplace ifa button on his left rection.:

have devised a novel stage which is easilyoper ated and controlled. 1 At the sameltime, itm'ay be noted that I have provided a stage which while riedl'on said: plate and independentlyoperable pinion meanscarriedby said first slide in operative relationwith said ring gear and said rack whereby to selectively rotate said ring gear and to move said firstslide.

3. A revolving microscope stage of the type which is rotatably mounted on a stage support carried by the microscope and which comprises a stage plate and superposed slides mounted on the plate, said plate having-ahub portion rotatably mounted onsaid stagesupport, one slide slidable on said plateand a'second slide slidable on said first slide ,for'movement transversely of the first slide, specimedholdingmeans, carried by said second slide, said stage support, plate and first 'slide having central openings for the passage of light through the stage, gear means on said second slide, means for moving said second slide having a ring gear rotatably'and fioatingly carried by said first slide in operative engagement with the gear meanson said second slide whereby to move I the second slide'upon the-rotation of said ring of a compact nature may be constructed-to have 1 a desired surface area'and a suitablerigiclity; It is. to be observed that these advantages havebeen obtainedwithout sacrifice-ofqany of those essentials which arenecessary-to good-instrument de-- sign and which lead to the stability of various parts ofamiscros copeL-s I 1.v In a... microscope having a, support; ,arm, a 7.5

stage support on said arm, a stage 'plate rotatable transverse tothat of the first slide, specimen holding means on said second slide, said stage suppqrhgplate and first slide each having an -opening for 'thepassage'of lightjgearmeans on the s'econdsllde; a ring'gear, gibmeans secured a e -ass ance with therotation of sai'dring gear, rack means carried by said plate, and independently operable pinion means carried by saidffirst slide in operating relation with said ring gear and said rack whereby to selectively rotate said ring gear and tomove said first slide; A l r rotatable on a stage support of a microscope, said stage comprising'astage plate having a hub portion rotatably carried by said stage support, a slide slidably mounted on said plate, a second slide slidable on the first-slide for movement in a direction transverse to that of the firstslide, a rack on said second slide, specimen holding means carried by said second slide, said stage support, plate and first slide provided with open ings for the passage of light through the stage, a ring gear having difierent sets of teeth, a plurality of gibs supporting said ring gear for rotation about an axis normal to the faces of said first slide, said gibs secured to said first slide at positions to hold one set of teeth of said ring gear in driving relation with the rack on said second slide, a second rack, said second rack mounted on said plate, and independently operable pinion means carried by said first slide in driving relation with another set of teeth on said ring gear and with said second rack whereby to cause desired movement of either slide.

6. A revolving microscope stage of the type rotatable on a stage support of a microscope, said stage comprising a stage plate. a hub on said plate rotatably mounted on said stage support, a slide slidably mounted on said plate, a second slide slidably mounted on said first slide for sliding movement transverse to that of the first slide, a rack on said second slide, specimen holding means on the second slide, said stage support, plate and first slide each provided with a central opening for the passage of light through the stage, said first slide having a recess in a surface thereof in surrounding relation to said central I F120 5. A revolving microscope stage of' the type opening therethrough, a ring gear having differend sets of teeth, gibs secured to said first slide and rotatably supporting said ring gear in said recess, one set of teeth on said ring gear in driving relation to said rack on said second slide, a second rack, said second rack mounted on said plate, said first slide provided with a cutaway portion into which said recess opens, concentric shafts independently rotatable of each other rotatably supported in said cutaway portion, a pinion on one shaft in driving engagement with a second set of teeth on said gear and a pinion on a second of said shafts in driving relation with said rack on said plate, said shafts extend ing beyond said plate and provided with hand operating buttons.

'7. A revolving microscope stage of the type rotatable on a stage support of a microscope and which comprises a stage plate having a hub portion rotatably journaled in said stage support, a slide slidably mounted on said plate, said slide having a main portion and an extension portion the surface of which is below that of the main portion of said slide, a econd slide slidably 'mounted on said extension portion for movement in a direction transverse to that of the first slide,

said second slide having its upper surface sub-- means i'secured-to'isaid': first slide-J: in. supporting relation to: said: lrin'g groan-whereby to= rotatably support said ring gear in operativexreiationxwith vthe gear me'ans' on said s'econd slidef to"? move lthe latter, in accordance with-therotationzofthe ring gear; rackwmeanse car-newsman plate','-- and inidependently operable :pinion: gmeans carried; 'by said first slide iin operating: relation? to .sai'd"v ring gearand to. said rack whereby tofsele'etivelylcause the movementof a slide on the actuation of its respective pinion means.

' 8. A revolving microscopestage of the type rotatably mounted on a stage support of amicroscope, said stage comprising a stage plate rotatablysupported on said stagesupport, aslide slidable on said stage plate, a second slide slidable on said first slide in a direction transverse to the movement of the first slide, specimen holding means'on the. second slide, said stage support, plateand first slide having an opening providing a' light passageway through said stage, gear means on said second slide, other gear means rotatably carried by the first slide in operative engagement with the gear means on said second slide whereby to move the latter in accordance with the rotation of said second mentioned gear means, separate and independently operable pinion means rotatably carried, by said first slide in operative relation to said second mentioned gear means at positions diametrically opposed to each other, said pinion means positioned in operating relation to said second mentioned gear means to causemovement between the slides to occur in the same relative direction on rotation of either pinion means in the same direction when either of such means is positioned on the same side of the'microscope following rotation of said stage, a rack on said plate, other pinion means concentric with said'first named pinion means-and also rotatably carried by said first slide, said second pinionmeans in operating relation to said rack whereby to causemovement of the first slide in accordance with therotatio of said second pinion means.

, 9. In a microscope having a stand, a centrally apertured stage supported by said stand and means on the stage to hold an object being examined the combination of; a slide support, a

slide member mounted on said slide support for I rectilinear sliding movement, specimen holding means carried by said slide member, gear teeth carried by said slide member, a circular member rotatably carried by said slide support and having an opening concentric with the aperture in v the stage, gear teethon said circular member in operative engagement with the gear teeth on said slide member, other gearteeth on said cir-.

gear teeth on said circular member whereby to rotate the latter to cause the movement of the slide member.

- 10. In amicroscope the combination of a stand, a stage rotatably supported by.said stand, said stage having a centrally disposed opening, a specimen carryingslide member movablysupported by the stage for rectilinear movement, an

annular gear member rotatably carried by the a stage and having an opening which issubstantially concentric with the opening in the stage,

means on. theisecond islid'eip said ,istage' i' support, plate andifirst. slide each provided-t with: an 011311;- ingei for the passage :of light through': said stage, gear meansg on the second: slide,;fa.ring gear-,1: gib

-.member. will cause rectilinear movement of the 'slide member, and means for rotating said annular gear'member. v 4 v r r 11..- Ina microscopethextombination of a stand,

:acentrally apertured stage rotat ably supported by the stand; a specimenslide member movably '10 supported by the stagefo'r rectilinear movement, gear teeth associated-with the slide member, an

annular member rotatably mountedon the stage 'withitsopening inalignment with the-aperture "oi. the-stage,v said-annular member having gear teeth; operatively engaging theteeth associated with thejslide member whereby rotation of the annular member moves the slide member, means for rotating the annular member comprising other gear teeth on the annular member; and a plurality of drive gearsrotatably mountedon opposite sides: of the stage apertureysaidv drive gears being in cooperative engagement with said othergear teethonthe annular member.

EDWARD. F; I 

